Arriving at the UN headquarters for the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) was filled with anticipation and curiosity. Although I arrived slightly late, my first session, Transforming Women’s Leadership Beyond Numbers To Tangible Outcomes organised by the Republic of Kenya, immediately captured my attention—Kenyan women farmers sharing powerful stories about their strategies to amplify their voices through community data collection and dedicated dialogue with government officials. The profiling and data collection they had done in selecting the farmers reminded me of our own “One Woman, One Hectare” initiative and a similar process we had back home.
Later, I attended a joint event hosted by Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, supported by UN Women and the De Beers Group. I learned of a remarkable entrepreneurship program designed specifically for women, funded significantly by De Beers with a $7 million grant shared among our three countries. Witnessing Hon. Lesego Chombo, a dynamic 26-year-old Minister from Botswana passionately articulate their progress using the SDGs, particularly goals 1, 5, and 17, was profoundly motivating. We heard empowering testimonies from entrepreneurs Ms. Elise Iihuhwa (Namibia), Ms. Ntombi Yeland Ncube (South Africa), and Ms. Kemosedile Begani (Botswana) which included chicken production in urban areas. Their experiences clearly illustrated the transformative power of targeted financial support and entrepreneurship training.
Surprisingly, as a delegate from South Africa, this was my first exposure to this impactful regional initiative supported by De Beers. It highlighted a critical gap in awareness and communication about available resources in our own country. Additionally, I felt motivated to advocate for more visibility and data-driven initiatives at home, ensuring that our women’s voices and achievements are equally heard and celebrated.
Discovering the depth and scope of the initiatives already underway in South Africa’s less publicised but equally vital projects, left me determined to explore deeper into our own national programs. This realisation reinforced the critical need for transparency, communication, and community involvement in women’s empowerment initiatives. As I return home, my commitment is clear: to ensure that initiatives like these not only reach our communities but also resonate loudly enough to create meaningful, lasting change.
